Police seize 20 guns from alleged drug house

Police confiscated more than 20 handguns and assault rifles from an alleged drug house while executing a search warrant last week.

Numerous neighbor complaints and a four-month police investigation led the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force to obtain a search warrant for the house at 375 N. 75 East, said Strike Force Sgt. Brent Ward.The investigation revealed there might be about five handguns and an AK-47 assault rifle in the house, Ward said. Therefore, SWAT teams from the Davis County Sheriff's Office, the Bountiful Police Department and the Layton Police Department surrounded the house before the search began about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

Inside they found between 20 and 30 assault weapons, including a modified fully automatic assault rifle, Ward said. Also found was enough methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia to believe the drug was being distributed at the house.

Two men were found sleeping in the house. The owner, 43, claimed ownership of all the guns and was booked into the Davis County Jail for investigation of drug possession with intent to distribute. He has been previously convicted of several drug and weapons charges, Ward said.

"He shouldn't have been in possession of those weapons," Ward said. He had been convicted in California of possessing a silencer.

The other man had an outstanding arrest warrant and was also booked into jail.

Since several weapons appear to have been modified, the owner could face federal charges, Ward said.